Keep It Local

Building a better world one building at a time REDHORSE Cont.frompage4 projectpossiblewhilepushingthe boundaries to offset the world's eco- related problems. "I take extreme liberties in trying to get new systems and new materials into play," Warner says. Among his projects is a house in Corte Madera that took six years to build and incorporated new ideas that were untried at the time but are now standard, such as a system to drive passive air conditioning and air- monitoring systems. Most of the house's wood is recycled from razed warehouses at Crissy Field. "People say it's a big house, but if you build a smaller structure, then the pilot project is erased," he says. His goal was to find ways to meet the needs of a larger institution. He's also deeply involved in the Human Needs Project in Kibera, Kenya, where technology is changing people's lives. "We're lighting up miles of streets with an LED system," he says. It's solar-driven, and two lampposts near the center will be fitted with Wi-Fi and radio capability, extending the reach of educational and training courses to give people in a slum free access to information and knowledge. In the future, some lampposts could also be retrofitted with inductive charging stations for mobile phones and Wi-Fi. Warner also has three new projects underway using innovative materials, which he finds demanding, but fun. n Redhorse Constructors 36 Professional Center Parkway San Rafael, Calif. 94903 415-492-2020 redhorseconstructors.com Redhorse Constructors is the first local construction company to use "robots." A construction worker downloads civil engineering information onto an iPad and uses it to operate a piece of heavy equipment and provide instructions. In addition, the company engages people through a Facebook page, where it recently gave them a chance to help name a calf. "We have such a great back yard," she says. "We like to bring our products to our neighbors first." n Point Reyes Farmstead Cheese Co. 14700 Highway One Point Reyes Station, Calif. 94956 1-800-591-6878 pointreyescheese.com Point Reyes Farmstead Cheese makes education and farm to fork a priority and offers farm tours, dinners and classes. Accolades include the American Cheese Society Award in 2017 for Point Reyes Toma and a Good Food Award in 2018 for Bay Blue. Their cheeses are Original Blue, Bay Blue, Toma, Mozzarella, White Cheddar, Cornelia and Gouda. Community members meet at the Human Needs Project's Kibera Town Centre in Nairobi, Kenya –PhotobySadéKammen/HNP. The Kibera Town Centre, a one-stop shop offering clean water, energy and social infrastructure to local residents, built by Redhorse Constructors for the Human Needs Project in Nairobi, Kenya. – Photo by Chad Holder Photography/HNP ShadesofMarinhasoperated from the same San Rafael location since its inception in 1953. Eric is the third generation proprietor of the family-owned business that was founded by M.G. Widergren. Each generation has instilled in the next a belief in taking care of the customer, and that philosophy has been the company's mainstay through the years. Shades of Marin has everything you're looking for in window coverings: style, quality and expertise. Design consultation, sales, installation, repair and commercial services all under one roof means you don't have to drive all over town. You'll find an impressive selection of colors, styles, fabrics and functions: awnings, draperies, porch shades, shutters and solar screens. Equally impressive is Shades of Marin's staff of knowledgeable, friendly people, who know their products and give service a personal touch. Let them show you options that suit your décor, personal style and budget. They'll help you find exactly what you want — even if you don't yet know what that is. Shades of Marin offers free, no- obligation home estimates. Call today or stop in and visit their showroom to see their complete line of window coverings. ShadesofMarin Shades Of Marin 20704thSt,SanRafael,CA M-F: 10:00 am - 5:00 pm • Sat: 10:00 am - 4:00 pm 415-453-1518 • www.shadesofmarin.com Contractors License #Lic. 831573 Pirouette ® Window Shadings season of style Fashionably early. Order your shades now and be ready for holiday gatherings. Beautiful Hunter Douglas window fashions are essential to an inviting home décor. What's more, savings are available right now on a wide range of styles. So, shop today, order early and have your window fashions professionally installed. All in time for your guests to arrive. A Marketing Supplement of the Marin Independent Journal | marinij.com Keep It Local September 9, 2018 11

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